Women in Sport has launched a new research report looking at the implications of the Coronavirus lockdown and self-isolation for women’s participation in sport.
The charity is concerned at the impact lockdown has had on women’s participation in sport and exercise and is determined to ensure that this impact is not long-term given that previous to lockdown we had been closing the gender gap in activity. Although activity levels for all have declined during lockdown, women’s activity levels have declined at a much faster rate than men with the gender participation gap widening once more.
The latest research from Women in Sport has shown that women have been disproportionately impacted by the lockdown, especially those women with children juggling home-life, work, and schooling, and women aged 70 plus who have suffered the greatest isolation.
- 36% of women said that losing their fitness would have a long-term impact
- 25% of women were worried that getting back into the habit of exercise post lockdown would be hard
- 32% of women couldn’t prioritise doing exercise during lockdown as they had too much to do for others.
But the research has shown that lockdown has also resulted in a resetting of priorities and an increased motivation to exercise post-lockdown with 61% of women surveyed stating that they will put more effort into being fit and active after lockdown is over.